Game device

ABSTRACT

An indicating device for a target for a ball or puck in which an elongated hollow member of low mass in the shape of a cylinder is supported on a small horizontal rod and when struck by an object entering the target will revolve on the rod to give a positive indication of entry or passage through the target. A U-shaped enclosure is located rearward of the cylinder for retaining balls or pucks.

I Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,785,656 Gybowski Jan. 15, 1974 [541 GAME DEVICE 1,571,503 2/1926 Barber 271/12? R 3,690,664 9/1972 Haukc 273/l27 D [76] lnvcmor- Frank GYbWsk" 34 2,462,420 2/1949 Pindcr 273 177 R Way, New Haven, Conn.

[22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1972 ma y E gmin r 0rg J. Marlo Attorney- DeLio and Montgomery [21] Appl. No.: 289,473

, [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 273/177 A, 273/184 A, 273/127 D, An indicating device for a target for a ball or puck in 273/56 which an elongated hollow member of low mass in the [51] Int. CL. A63b 57/00, A63b 71/00, A63b 69/36 shape of a cylinder is supported on a small horizontal [58] Field of Search 273/176, 184, 185, rod and when struck by an object entering the target 273/127, 177, 56, 126, 178, 179 will revolve on the rod to give a positive indication of entry or passage through the target. A U-shaped en- [56] References Cited closure is located rearward of the cylinder for retain- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing balls or P 2,427,434 9/1947 Whitehouse 273/127 D 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures GAME DEVICE This invention relates to games, and more particularly relates to games of the type in which a ball must pass through an entry way or target.

This invention provides a device defining an entry way or target for a ball to pass therethrough which may be used in games or simulations of games, such as golf or croquet, and which gives a positive indication when a ball has passed through a target or entrance.

Briefly stated, the invention in one form thereof comprises a horizontal rod supported .at opposite ends thereof a predetermined distance above a reference plane together with a hollow member which is supported on the rod and is of such cross-sectional dimension as to depend and define a predetermined vertical opening with the reference plane. When a ball or equivalent projectile, such as a puck, passes through the predetermined opening, it will strike the hollow object which is preferably a cylinder, and cause the cylinder to revolve around the rod. Such revolving motion is visually evident and also will create audible sounds to clearly indicate, even from a distance, that the ball has passed through the target opening.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device for giving a positive indication in games involving skill.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described having new and improved meansfor indicating when a ball or other object enters a target.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, the invention both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention arranged to resemble a golf hole;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 showing a golf ball entering the target;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2lshowin'g the operation of the device after a ball has passed therethrough;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a device embodying the invention showing its applicability to use with a hockey puck; I

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another device embodying the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a frontelevation of the device embodying the invention and arranged for use on a croquet type unit; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a preferred size relationship as between a ball and a device embodying the invention.

A first device 10 embodying the invention comprises an elongated hollow member 11, preferably in the form of a cylinder, which is supported on a horizontal rod 12 of substantially lesser cross-sectional area so that the member 11 may easily revolve about the axis of rod 12 when energy is imparted thereto.

The member 11 is preferably made of a lightweight synthetic material. Rod 12 has support means 13 and 14 at either ends thereof adapted to support the rod 12 a predetermined distance above a reference plane shown as R in FIG. 2. This distance is predetermined to allow entrance of a ball, shown as a golf ball 15, into the target defined by rod 12 and support members 13 and 14 and reference plane R. The support means 13 and 14 are carried by a U-shaped bracket 16 which may have a pocket 17 attached thereto to support a simulated golf hole marker 18. The member 11 in a relaxed position depends from rod 12 to define a distance D between the lowermost portion thereof and the reference or support plane. The distance D is less than the diameter of the ball.

Thus, when a ball 15 enters the target as shown in FIG. 2, it will strike the member 11 and impart energy thereto, thus causing member 11 to revolve or twist about rod 12 and define a path P as shown in FIG. 3, which is essentially twice the diameter of member 11. As further shown in FIG. 3, if the ball 15 strikes the back member 19 of the bracket 16, the revolution of member 11 in the path P will serve as a barrier against the ball 15 bouncing out.

The member 11 in one form thereof as applied to the golf game may be a tube of synthetic material approximately 1% inches in diameter and of very light weight so that when the golf ball strikes it, the energy imparted thereto will produce at least several revolutions or twirls of the member 11, about rod 12.

In the embodiment just mentioned, the thickness of the tubing material need only be 0.03 0.05 inches. The length of the member 11 is 3% inches and the rod 12 is 4 inches. It is preferred that the cross-sectional dimension of member 11 be so selected in relation to the diameter of the ball 15 such that when the ball strikes the member 11 the major component of force imparted thereto will be in a direction to cause member 11 to commence to revolve around rod 12, and not merely to jump up or be knocked upwardly therefrom which would decrease the number of revolutions.

For this reason it is preferred that the dimension D is so chosen in relation to the diameter of member 11, and the ball to be used, that a line passing between the center of the ball and the axis of the cylinder 11 at the time the ball contacts the cylinder is no more than 45 as shown in FIG. 8. With such a relationship, when the ball contacts the cylinder, the components of the energy imparted thereto would be equal in both the horizontal and vertical directions, the angle being taken with respect to the horizontal, as exemplified in FIG. 8. A lesser angle than 45 would of course increase the amount of energy in the horizontal direction which is imparted to member 11. It will be quite apparent that as the angle approaches zero, a greater component of horizontal force will be imparted thereto. The smallest cross-sectional dimension of the hollow member should be at least about five times greater than the diameter of the support rod.

FIG. 4 exemplifies another device embodying the invention wherein an elongated hollow member 21 is supported on a rod 22 on support means 23 and 24 carried by a bracket 26. In this case the target area defined is one for a hockey type puck 25. As shown in FIG. 4 a puck 25 is adapted to slide on a reference plane R and will initially engage member 21 along a line which resides in the same plane as the axis of member 21 to impart substantial energy thereto.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a device that may be utilized with a croquet ball 30 and comprises a cylindrical member 31 supported on a rod 32 which, in turn, is supported on upright members 33 and 34. The upright members are extended into feet 35 and 36, respectively, which may have protective tubings 37 and 38 thereon.

As exemplified in FIG. 6, the member 31 has a diameter selected in accordance with the diameter of the ball so that the major component of force will be in the horizontal direction when the ball strikes the member 31.

FIG. 7 is a modification of a croquet wicket 40 having a hollow member 41 on a horizontal support rod 42 with vertical support members 43 and 44 having points 45 and 46 thereon adapted to be stuck into the ground below the reference plane R. This embodiment of the invention may be utilized with the conventional outdoor croquet sets and will always give a possible visual indication when the ball 30 passes through the wicket 40. In this embodiment notches or other marks may be placed on the support members 43 and 44 to show the depth to which the support members are inserted into the ground.

It may thus be seen that the objects of the invention set forth as well as those made apparent from the foregoing description are efficiently attained. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for purposes of disclosure, modification to the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments of the invention and modifications to the disclosed embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game device including a projectile and a target, the target being designed to rest on a reference plane and the projectile being designed to travel along the surface of said plane, the target comprising a horizontal bridging rod, means for supporting said rod at opposite ends thereof a predetermined distance above said reference plane, and an elongated hollow cylinder traversed by and supported loosely on said bridging member, said cylinder having a diameter such that the lowest point of said cylinder when hanging from said rod defines a space with said reference plane which is less than the vertical dimension of the projectile, whereby when the projectile strikes said cylinder it imparts energy thereto and causes said cylinder to revolve about said rod, said support means being mounted adjacent the extending ends of a U-shaped bracket adapted to rest on said reference plane and to form an enclosure for retaining the projectile therein after it has passed the cylinder.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the smallest crosssectional dimension of said cylinder is at least four times as great as the greatest cross-sectional dimension of said rod.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the projectile is a ball and the diameter of the cylinder is chosen in relation to the height of said rod and the diameter of said ball such that upon initial contact of said ball on said cylinder a line from the center of the ball intersecting the axis of said cylinder forms an angle of no more than approximately 45 with the reference plane.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the projectile is a puck and the center of said cylinder measured from the reference plane supporting said device is less than the height of said puck. 

1. A game device including a projectile and a target, the target being designed to rest on a reference plane and the projectile being designed to travel along the surface of said plane, the target comprising a horizontal bridging rod, means for supporting said rod at opposite ends thereof a predetermined distance above said reference plane, and an elongated hollow cylinder traversed by and supported loosely on said bridging member, said cylinder having a diameter such that the lowest point of said cylinder when hanging from said rod defines a space with said reference plane which is less than the vertical dimension of the projectile, whereby when the projectile strikes said cylinder it imparts energy thereto and causes said cylinder to revolve about said rod, said support means being mounted adjacent the extending ends of a U-shaped bracket adapted to rest on said reference plane and to form an enclosure for retaining the projectile therein after it has passed the cylinder.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the smallest cross-sectional dimension of said cylinder is at least four times as great as the greatest cross-sectional dimension of said rod.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the projectile is a ball and the diameter of the cylinder is chosen in relation to the height of said rod and the diameter of said ball such that upon initial contact of said ball on said cylinder a line from the center of the ball intersecting the axis of said cylinder forms an angle of no more than approximately 45* with the reference plane.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the projectile is a puck and the center of said cylinder measured from the reference plane supporting said device is less than the height of said puck. 